Lee is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master’s in Environmental Engineering. He began his career in construction as a project engineer and was later offered a job with the state of Mississippi’s water utility regulatory authority at the Mississippi State Department of Health. After 25 years of working with the regulatory authority, Lee retired as a Director of Engineering in charge of inspecting, reviewing and approving public water supply projects in addition to offering technical assistance and training to both water operators and managers. He spent the next 12 years in private practice beginning with managing his own engineering firm and is currently employed as an engineer with Engineering Service in Richland, Mississippi.

In addition to his professional service, Lee has been a scout master and has received many merit awards from the Boy Scouts of America and the National Eagle Scout Association for leading many young men to the rank of Eagle Scout. Lee is also an active deacon in his church and has taught Bible Study to all age groups in addition to singing in the choir.

In addition to this award, Lee also was presented with the Silver Water Drop which is awarded to AWWA Members with 30 years of active membership. During his 30 years, he was extremely active in the Section serving on many different chairs and eventually working his way up to serving as Section Chair in 2007.

The recognition was announced by AWWA President Elect (2013-2014) John Donahue during the Alabama-Mississippi Section of the American Water Works Association Annual Conference on the evening of October 15th at the Mid-South Convention Center in Robinsonville, Mississippi (the very same location that Lee served as Section Chair in 2007).

During Lee’s acceptance remarks, he not only thanked his wife Debbie, but he also thanked fellow Fuller Award member Bobby Redding for being instrumental in many of his professional accomplishments in both the industry and within the Section.

Lee will be recognized nationally at the American Water Works Association 2014 Conference in Boston, Massachusetts in June and will become a member of the George Warren Fuller Award Society of the American Water Works Association.